Headout logo. Link to home.
Help
#1 out of 17 in Edinburgh

Holyrood Palace

Step into Holyrood Palace, the official Scottish residence of the British monarch. Delve into history exploring the state apartments and the ruins of Holyrood Abbey.

4.5/5

7.4K+ travellers love this

See what they have to say

Holyrood Palace
Palace of Holyroodhouse facade with central fountain, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Historic room with portraits and chandelier at Palace of Holyroodhouse, London.
Ornate room with a canopy bed and paintings at Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh.
Dining room inside Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, with ornate decor and portraits.
Ornate bedroom with red canopy bed and tapestries at Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh.
Visitors viewing portraits in the gallery of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, London.
Ornate jeweled pendant with blue stone at Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Palace of Holyroodhouse ruins with arched windows and stone facade in Edinburgh.
Tourists exploring the historic Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Holyroodhouse Palace facade with stone towers and blue sky in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Free cancellation
Book now, pay later
Flexible duration
1 more
  • Step into the royal world of the Palace of Holyroodhouse. See where King Charles III stays when in Scotland, and learn about its rich history.

  • Discover the eclectic State Apartments, a royal masterpiece showcasing the blend of grand and contrasting tastes of successive monarchs.

  • Walk in Mary, Queen of Scots footsteps as you visit her Historic Apartments and find out the chilling stories about murder that haunt the walls.

  • Seek solace in a peaceful oasis amidst the crumbling ruins of Holyrood Abbey which once used to be one of the grandest abbeys in Scotland.

  • Upgrade to a guided tour of the palace with after-hours access, or enjoy a 48-hour hop-on-hop-off pass with entry to Edinburgh Castle and The Royal Yacht Britannia.

More details

  • Step into the royal world of the Palace of Holyroodhouse. See where King Charles III stays when in Scotland, and learn about its rich history.

  • Discover the eclectic State Apartments, a royal masterpiece showcasing the blend of grand and contrasting tastes of successive monarchs.

  • Walk in Mary, Queen of Scots footsteps as you visit her Historic Apartments and find out the chilling stories about murder that haunt the walls.

  • Seek solace in a peaceful oasis amidst the crumbling ruins of Holyrood Abbey which once used to be one of the grandest abbeys in Scotland.

  • Upgrade to a guided tour of the palace with after-hours access, or enjoy a 48-hour hop-on-hop-off pass with entry to Edinburgh Castle and The Royal Yacht Britannia.

from
£21
Hop-On Hop-Off bus on a street in Edinburgh with historic buildings and Arthur's Seat in the background.
Family enjoying The Royal Edinburgh Tour on an open-top bus.
Edinburgh Castle atop Castle Rock with Ross Fountain in foreground on The Royal Edinburgh Tour.
Visitors observing the Great Hall's medieval armor display inside Edinburgh Castle.
Tourists on a hop-on hop-off bus viewing Edinburgh Castle during the Royal Edinburgh Tour.
Greenhouse in Royal Botanic Gardens with palm trees and glass architecture.
Visitors walking through lush greenery inside the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Royal Yacht Britannia docked in Edinburgh with colorful flags.
Bell of H.M. Yacht Britannia, part of the Royal Edinburgh Tour attractions.
Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh under a blue sky.
Visitors at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on the Royal Edinburgh Tour.
Hop-On Hop-Off bus in front of historic Edinburgh buildings.
Free cancellation
Flexible duration
Audio guide
  • Step back in time at Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Board the Royal Yacht Britannia for a royal sea adventure – along your HOHO route.

  • Explore the royal rooms, and wander through Mary, Queen of Scots apartments and see how tea areas and intriguing crew quarters were decorated.

  • Hop on and off at your leisure with three routes and 50+ key stops. Visit the Scottish Parliament, Old Town, and Royal Mile with your HOHO pass.

  • Enjoy frequent double-decker buses every 30 mins and listen to the multilingual audio guides or immersive English narration on the green route.

  • Did you know? In 1566 David Rizzio, the private secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots was murdered brutally inside the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

More details

  • Step back in time at Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Board the Royal Yacht Britannia for a royal sea adventure – along your HOHO route.

  • Explore the royal rooms, and wander through Mary, Queen of Scots apartments and see how tea areas and intriguing crew quarters were decorated.

  • Hop on and off at your leisure with three routes and 50+ key stops. Visit the Scottish Parliament, Old Town, and Royal Mile with your HOHO pass.

  • Enjoy frequent double-decker buses every 30 mins and listen to the multilingual audio guides or immersive English narration on the green route.

  • Did you know? In 1566 David Rizzio, the private secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots was murdered brutally inside the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

from
£76
Tour group gathered outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh.
Palace of Holyroodhouse facade with central fountain, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Guided group tour inside the ornate room of Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh.
Ornate room with a canopy bed and paintings at Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh.
Group of tourists on a guided tour in the gardens of Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Tour group listening to a guide in the ornate interior of the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Ornate bedroom with red canopy bed and tapestries at Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh.
Free cancellation
Book now, pay later
1 hr 15 min
  • Enjoy exclusive access to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, the official residence of The King in Scotland, on a guided small-group tour in English.

  • Step inside rooms like the exquisite West Drawing Room, usually closed to the public, with 17th-century ceilings and still used by the Royal Family today.

  • Experience the grandeur of this site in a serene, crowd-free setting, as your expert guide shares captivating stories of its royal past.

  • Take home a complimentary Palace guidebook, the perfect keepsake to commemorate your visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

More details

  • Enjoy exclusive access to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, the official residence of The King in Scotland, on a guided small-group tour in English.

  • Step inside rooms like the exquisite West Drawing Room, usually closed to the public, with 17th-century ceilings and still used by the Royal Family today.

  • Experience the grandeur of this site in a serene, crowd-free setting, as your expert guide shares captivating stories of its royal past.

  • Take home a complimentary Palace guidebook, the perfect keepsake to commemorate your visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

from
£55
King's Gallery entrance with ornate wooden doors and stone facade in Edinburgh.
Staircase leading to The King's Gallery at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, featuring royal portraits.
Royal figure in elegant attire at the King's Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Museum gallery with historical paintings and period costumes on display.
A historical portrait in The King's Gallery at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Floral arrangement on pedestal between two historical paintings in a blue-walled gallery.
Artworks displayed in the King's Gallery at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
King's Gallery entrance at Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, with flags and historic architecture.
Free cancellation
Flexible duration
  • The King’s Gallery curates temporary exhibitions displaying Royal Collection masterpieces—perfect for anyone craving royal history and timeless artistry.
  • See how royal portrait photography evolved from color prints to masterpieces by Cecil Beaton and Annie Leibovitz at the Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography exhibition.
  • Open till Sept 7, 2025, peek into the making of royal portraits with handwritten notes, proofs, and correspondence straight from the Royal Archives in this new exhibit.
  • The earliest surviving royal color portrait is here—Princess Margaret, shot in vibrant 1935 hues by Madame Yevonde!
  • Rare vintage prints make their debut! See royal photographs and documents that have never been displayed publicly—total exclusivity vibes!

More details

  • The King’s Gallery curates temporary exhibitions displaying Royal Collection masterpieces—perfect for anyone craving royal history and timeless artistry.
  • See how royal portrait photography evolved from color prints to masterpieces by Cecil Beaton and Annie Leibovitz at the Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography exhibition.
  • Open till Sept 7, 2025, peek into the making of royal portraits with handwritten notes, proofs, and correspondence straight from the Royal Archives in this new exhibit.
  • The earliest surviving royal color portrait is here—Princess Margaret, shot in vibrant 1935 hues by Madame Yevonde!
  • Rare vintage prints make their debut! See royal photographs and documents that have never been displayed publicly—total exclusivity vibes!
from
£11

Similar things to do in Edinburgh

Millions love heading out with us

Mauricio Shinzato
BR

Mauricio

Brazil
Jul 2025
5/5
review-image
I loved seeing the Scottish home of the royal family and was grateful to hear the audio in Portuguese. Delighted with the conservation of the rooms and gardens. Good to know that we were able to witness the existence of this place and see how everything is so well preserved and protected.
Fay Anderson

Fay

Aug 2022
5/5
A wonderful exhibition with helpful staff, well set out. In the hot weather gallery cool and most important plenty seating.
Victor John Simmons III
US

Victor

United States
Aug 2025
5/5
New clean double Decker buses. Great audio tour in many languages. Nice drivers. Easy on easy off. Frequency good too. Attraction tickets all worked out well. Highly recommend!
Esther Andrew
GB

Esther

United Kingdom
Aug 2025
5/5
It was the best palace visit I have experienced so far. With the clear audio guide and directions, it was fascinating as well as informative. Luckily it was a nice sunny day with a good crowd.
Download app section background

We've served 42 million+ guests and we are here for you

42 million+

Happy customers across 10,000+ experiences

In the media

Featured and recommended by the best brands

24 x 7 help center

Have a question? Live chat with local experts anywhere, anytime